Individual selective system.



No, 766,806. I PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. B. BROOKS & H. F. METGALI'.INDIVIDUAL SELECTIVE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

FIILZ I wvibywom UNITED STATES Patented August 9, 1904..

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN BROOKS, OF SPRINGFIELD, AND HOWARD F. METOALF, OF HOLYOKE,MASSACHUSETTS.

INDIVIDUAL SELECTIVE $YSTEIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 766,806, dated August9, 1904.

Application filed February 28, 1903- Serial No. 145,480. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN BRooKs, re-' siding at Springfield, andHOWARD F. MET- OALF, residing at I-Iolyoke, in the county of Hampden andCommonwealth of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, haveinvented a new and useful Individual Selective System, of which thefollowing is a specification. 7

Our invention relates to improvements in telephone or other systems inwhich there are selective means for individual stations; and it consistsof the devices and mechanisms substantially as hereinafter described andclaimed.

The object of our improvement is to produce comparatively simple butpositively operating means for calling the desired station withoutalarming the other stations on the same circuit.

A further object of our invention is to provide practicable andefficient means for the purpose above noted. and to this end we employas an essential and valuable feature of our invention a ponder-ablebody, as a ball or weight, which can be impelled from the field ofaction for a limited time and will upon its return operate aratchet-retaining pawl or detent, the return being brought about bygravity.

We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the entire mechanism;Fig. 2, a plan view of the detent, and Fig. 3 a plan View of thepeculiar pawl which is used in the present construction.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Before describing our improved mechanism in detail it should be statedthat in practice each station in a given circuit is provided withmechanism similar in every essential particular save one with those atthe other stations and all are operated to a certain extent at the sametime, but only the one in the station which it is desired to call issufliciently influenced to produce or bring about a cognizable result.Such difference will be hereinafter pointed out.

Proceeding now with a detailed description of the device as a whole andas illustrated, it will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1 that a plate Ahas mounted thereon a toothed wheel or ratchet 10, a retaining pawl ordetent 11, electromagnets 12 12, and an armature 13, provided with apawl 14. The ratchet 10 need not have teeth around its entire peripheryand is cutaway at 15 15, so that one part shall be heavier than theother to insure the return of the wheel to a given position whenreleased. Said ratchet is mounted to rotate on a stud 16 between theplate A and a bracket 17, secured thereto. A contact-point 18 projectsfrom the serrated periphery of the ratchet 10 below the horizontal planeof the axis of said ratchet and at the left of the vertical plane ofsaid axis when the ratchet is in normal position. The normal position ofthe ratchet is determined by ascrew 19, adjustably mounted in a post20,'set into the plate A, a projection 21 on the unbroken portion of theratchet-periphery encountering the end of said screw when the ratchet isallowed to rotate back into position and there resting until theposition of the ratchet is again changed.

A bracket 22, attached to the plate A, supports the electromagnets 12below the ratchet 10, and a bracket 23, also attached to said plate,assists in supporting a stud 24, which serves as a pivot for-thearmature 13, which stands in a substantially vertical position and is ofsome considerable length. The pawl 14 is pivoted at 25 to the front ofthe armature 13 and has a nose 14, which is adapted to engage the teethof the ratchet above the horizontal plane of the axis of said ratchet.Said pawl also has downwardly and rearwardly projecting fingers 14 and14, between the rearwardly-projecting portions of which the armatureextends. A spring 26, extending between the pawl-finger .14" and a screw27, adjustably mounted in a bracket 28, fastened to the plate A,normally draws the pawlfinger 14 into contact with the adjacent edge ofthe armature 13 and swings said armature to the left into contact withthe limiting or regulating screw 29,adjustably mounted in a post 30,rising from the plate A.

In this position the pawl clears the ratchet. A resilient contact-pieceor selector 31 extends upward from a post32, set into the plate A,between the ratchet and a projection 33 on the adjacent edge of thearmature, normally out of the path of travel of the contactpoint 18. Theupper terminal 13 of the armature 13 is insulated from the main portionof said armature.

The detent 11 is of peculiar construction and, taken in connection withthe means for operating the same, constitutes a valuable feature of ourinvention, as hereinbefore intimated. This detent comprises a long armwhich extendsupward and then forward at its free end to form abifurcated rest 11 and a short arm extending intoproximity to theratchet-teeth. The stud 34, which is carried by the plate A and abracket 35 attached thereto, serves as a pivot for the detent, passingthrough .the same at or near the junction of its arms. The swingingmotion of the detent is limited in one direction by a screw 36,adjustably mounted in a post 37, rising from the plate A, and in theother direction by the ratchet, the short arm of the detent vibratingbetween said screw and ratchet, and the long arm with the rest l1 havinga corresponding up-and-down motion. A spring 38, having one end attachedto a pin 39, projecting in the rear of the short arm of the detent, anda screw 40, adjustably mounted in a post 41, rising from the plate A,have a tendency to draw said arm into engagementwith the ratchet-teeth;but such tendency is overcome and the arm held against the end of thescrew 36 through the medium of a ball 42,

which is received upon the rest 11. The rest 11 inclines downward to theleft and causes the ball to bear against the armature-terminal 13. Theball is heavy enough to overcome the resiliency of the spring 38 whenupon the rest 11.

A receiver 43, which may be made in the shape of a trough or assume someother form, as desired, is supported by hangers 14 44: against the faceof the plate A at the right of the ball 42 when the latter is on therest 11. The receiver 43 inclines upward from left to right more orless, as required and the ball is adapted to roll upon either the flooror upper edges of the same. In the present instance it rolls upon theedges. The hangers 44 are secured in position by means of set-screws 454:5, which enter suitable slots provided in both the plate A and thehangers to enable the receiver 43 to be adjusted at the proper angle.

A suitable signaling device, as an electric bell B, is associated withthe mechanism previously described.

It is to be understood that either the plate A consists of some suitablenon-conductor of electricity or else the several parts and members whichenter into the circuits and those which would produce short circuitsmust be insulated from said plate or from each other. Binding-posts 46,47, and 48 are located at the lower right-hand corner of the plate A.The local circuits are made up as follows: a is one of the main wires,running to the binding-post A6. The wire Z) connects said binding-postwith one pole of the electromagnets 12. The Wire 0 connects the otherpole of said magnets with the binding-post 47. and the main wire (0 runsto the lastmentioned binding-post. Said magnets are thus brought intothe circuit from the main line. A wire (Z connects the binding-post 46with the armature-terminal13. A wire econnects the binding-post 18 withthe post 32, to which the selector 31 is attached. The wire f connectssaid binding-post 18 with one of the binding-posts of the bell, and theother binding-post of said bell isconnected by the wire g with thebinding-post 17. It will be noticed that the bell-circuit is incompleteand, must so remain until certain electrical and mechanical actions takeplace, as hereinafter described. 7

Assuming the number to be 3 of the station at which the mechanism shownin the drawings is located and that it is desired to sound the bell Band call up said station, the operation will be as follows: The operatorat the central station by means of a telegraphkey or other suitableinstrument completes the circuit which energizes the magnets 12,

when they draw to themselves the armature 13 with sufiicient force notonly to cause the, ratchet 10 to be actuated for a distance equal to onetooth by the pawl 1 1, but also to drive the ball 42 from the rest 11onto and along the receiver 13 for some distance. As soon as the ball 12rolls onto the receiver the detent 11 is released to the action of itsspring 38, and the free end of the short arm of said detent engages theadjacent tooth to hold the ratchet and permit the pawl 14 to bewithdrawn from engagement therewith as soon as the current by which themagnets were energized is broken. When the current is discontinued or atthe end of the pulsation, the spring 26 draws the pawl 14 out ofengagement with and away from the ratchet-teeth. A second and a thirdpulsation succeed the first, and each time they occur the ratchet isactuated the distance of one tooth in the manner already described. Thethird pulsation brings the contact-point 18 into position for engagementby the selector 31, which is forced against the same by the projection33 at the time the armature is attracted to the magnets. These threepulsations take place before the ball A2 has had time to roll back intoits initial position. The operator holds the circuit closed the thirdtime long enough to permit the ball to roll down onto the rest 11against the terminal 13; but under these conditions the detent is notaffected by the ball, for the tact-point 18, the selector 31, and thewires previously described. As soon as the circuit is broken by theoperator the bell ceases to ring, the armature becomes separated fromthe magnets, so that the pawl is withdrawn from engagement with theratchet, the ball overcomes the resistance of the spring 38 and causesthe disengagemcntof the detent from the ratchet, and the latter at oncereturns to normal position, ready for a repetition of thepreviously-described operations.

When the operator desires to call station 4,

for example, four pulsations are given while the ball is on thereceiver,so the contactpoint 18 encounters the selector 31 at a time when thelocal bell-circuit is broken by the absence of the ball from the rest,and at the time the station 4 call is made said contactpoint has passedbeyond said selector, so, of course, the bell B does not ring. Thepositions of the selector and the contact-point on the ratchet determinethe number of pulsations required to ring the bell.

The pulsation should be given with considerable rapidity; yet it hasbeen found in practice that with a receiver of moderate length andarranged on the proper incline the ball will remain away from the restlong enough for a large number of pulsations to be given.

The object of the bent fingers 14: and 14 on the pawl 14 is topositively provide for the actuation of the ratchet 10 the distance ofone tooth each time the armature 13 is drawn to the magnets. As thelatter operation takes place the pawl 14 turns upon its pivot until thefinger 14L is brought into engagement with the adjacent edge of thearmature, the resiliency of the spring 26 being overcome at this time bythe upward pressure of the nose 1r against one of the ratchet-teeth.Upon the release of the armature the spring 26 at once draws the finger14 back into engagement with the adjacent edge of said armature. Fromthe foregoing it will be readily seen that the movement of the pawl uponits pivot is limited by the fingers and that if such limited. movementcorresponds to the movement of the ratchet for adistance of one tooththen the pawlcan never move the ratchet a greater distance at one timenor can the movement be less when the parts are properly adjusted.

It is obvious that the circuits may be dif ferently arranged and thatnumerous changes in construction, location, and arrangement of theseveral parts which enter into our invention may be made withoutdeparting from the nature thereof. As a notable example of amodification which falls within the scope of our invention a pendulumconsisting of a swinging member having a weight at the end may be usedin lieu of the ball and receiver shown and described. This amounts to nomore than a mechanical equivalent of the ball and receiver and is soughtto be covered by the claims.

WVhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an individual selective system dependent for action upon astep-by-step motion and electrical pulsations, the combination of aratchet, an armature actuated by said pulsations, a retaining pawl ordetent for said ratchet, a ponderable body normally supported by and indirect contact with said armature and detent and adapted to be actuatedby the former, said ponderable body when at its point of normal restthrowing the detent out of engagement with the ratchet and so retainingthe detent, but while in motion allowing the latter to engage theratchet, and an independent or separate receiver onto which such body isimpelled by the armature when actuated.

2. The combination, in an individual selective system, with aratchet-retaining pawl or detent and an armature, of a ponderable bodynormally supported by said detent and arma-' ture, for operating theformer, and adapted to be impelled under the force of a blow from saidarmaturelrom the field of action and to remain away for a limitedperiod.

3. The combination, in anindividual selective system, with aratchet-retaining pawl or detent and an armature, of a ponderable bodynormally supported by said detent and armature, for operating theformer, and adapted to be impelled under the force of a blow from saidarmature from the field of action and to remain away for alimitedperiod, the ponderable body with the contacting portion of the armatureforming part of an electric circuit. 4. In an individual selectivesystem, a ratchet, means consisting in part of an armature to impart astep-by-step motion thereto, a detent therefor, and a ball adapted tonormally rest directly upon and hold the detent out of engagement withthe ratchet, also to normally be in the path of said armature whereby itmay be actuated to release the detent.

5. In an individual selective system, a ratchet provided with acontact-point, means to impart a step-by-step motion to said ratchet, adetent for the latter, a ball adapted to rest upon and hold the detentout of engagement with the ratchet, means to cause the ratchet to rotateback to the starting-point, when released, means to remove the ball by ablow from its holding position, and a selector adapted to be thrust intothe path of travel of said contact-point.

6. In an individual selective system, a ratchet provided with acontact-point, means to impart a step-by-step motion to said ratchet, adetent for the latter, a ball adapted to rest upon and hold the detentout of engagement with the ratchet, means to remove the ball by a blowfrom its holding position, a selector adapted to be thrust into the pathof travel of said contact-point, means to enable the ball to make andbreak a circuit at the point of rest, and means to enable the selectorand contact-point to make and break a circuit.

7 In an individual selective system, a ratchet, means to impart astep-by-step motion thereto, a detent therefor, aball adapted when inits normal position to rest upon and retain said detent out ofengagement with the ratchet, a stationary receiver for said ball, andmeans to throw said ball by a blow onto the receiver and release thedetent for engagement with the ratchet.

8. In an individual selective system, a ratchet, an armature carryingapawl adapted to imparta step-by-step motion to said ratchet, a detentfor the ratchet, a ball adapted when in its normal position to rest uponand hold said detent out of engagement with the ratchet and to be incontact with said armature, and a stationary inclined receiverpositioned to receive said ball when actuated by a blow from thearmature and to return it again to engagement with the detent andarmature.

9. In an individual selective system, a ratchet carrying acontact-point, an armature provided with a pawl adapted to actuate saidratchet by a step-by-step motion, a detent arranged to coact with saidpawl and to retain the ratchet in position, a ball normally supported bysaid detent and armature, adapted to be impelled from its pointof restby said armature, a receiver for the ball when so impelled, and aselector arranged to be thrust by the armature into engagement with saidcontact-point, the selector, ball-contactingpart of the armature, ball,detent and ratchet completing an electric circuit when the selector andratchet contact-point and the armature and ball are in engagement.

10. In an individual selective system, a ratchet carrying acontact-point, an armature provided with a pawl adapted to actuate saidratchet by a step-by-step motion, a detent arranged to coact with saidpawl and to retain the ratchet in position, a ball normally supported bysaid detent and armature, adapted to be impelled from its point of restby said armature, a receiver for the ball when so impelled, a selectorarranged to be thrust by the armature into engagement with saidcont-actpoint, and means to cause the ratchet to rotate back to thestarting-point, when released, the selector, ball-contacting part of thearmature, ball, detent and ratchet completing an electric circuit whenthe selector and ratchet contactpoint and the armature and ball are inengagement.

1 1. In an individual selective system, a ratchet, an armature providedwith a pawl adapted to impart a step-by-step motion to said ratchet, adetent bifurcated at one end to receive the upper terminal of thearmature and having its other end adapted to engage the ratchet,resilient means to bring about such engagement, a ball adapted to restupon said bifurcated end, in contact with the armature, and a stationaryreceiver for said ball when impelled from its position of rest by a blowfrom the armature.

It testimony whereof we'have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN BROOKS. HOWVARD F. METCALF. WVitnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, A. L. STEVENS.

